The first part of the 2026 Giro d’Italia Women is turning into an authentic tribute to the sweet smile and powerful sprint of Elisa Balsamo. Three consecutive victories, including two in the Maglia Rosa: these are the numbers of a true champion. Once again, Balsamo proved she is always there when it comes down to a sprint, delivering another masterclass in timing and positioning.
A sprint finish was expected, and a sprint finish it was at the end of the 156-kilometre Bibione–Buja stage — but not without a struggle. The day was first animated by a breakaway and then by a series of attacks on the Montenars climb, where the race favourites tested one another ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Belluno–Nevegal TUDOR ITT uphill time trial. All in all, it was a highly entertaining stage on the eve of a very important test.
The Breakaway
The stage was animated by a breakaway that formed during the opening hour of racing. Cristina Tonetti (Laboral Kutxa–Fundación Euskadi), Alison Jackson (St Michel–Preference Home–Auber93), Eleonora Deotto (Team Mendelspeck E-Work), Barbara Guarischi (Team SD Worx–Protime), Nienke Veenhoven (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Marta Pavesi (Top Girls Fassa Bortolo) launched a brave move in the opening kilometres and spent much of the day out front.
Rain arrived along the route, although it did not last long. Meanwhile, the riders in the breakaway began to run low on energy: shortly before the Montenars climb, only Cristina Tonetti, Alison Jackson and Marta Pavesi remained out front.
On the Montenars climb came the attack nobody expected. Despite tomorrow’s demanding Belluno–Nevegal TUDOR ITT uphill time trial, Demi Vollering decided to light things up, first sending a teammate to the front to set the pace before launching her move. The European champion accelerated, but Elisa Longo Borghini responded in person, as did Anna van der Breggen. In the end, Vollering recorded the fastest time on the timed ascent.
